Russia ‘releases US citizen detained on drug charges’ ahead of Ukraine peace talks
Russia has reportedly released a American citizen who had been detained on drug charges, just hours ahead of its talks with the US over Ukraine.
The New York Times said that Kalob Byers Wayne had been released by Russia on Monday, hours before the discussions were set to begin.
The 28-year-old had been arrested at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport after flying in from Istanbul on 7 February, on drug smuggling charges after allegedly being caught with cannabis-laced marmalade.
Russian police claimed he had tried to smuggle a “significant amount” of drugs into the country.
Last week, a court in the Russian capital ordered Mr Wayne be held in pre-trial detention for 30 days.
It isn’t clear if his release is aimed at easing tensions in the talks between the US and Russia ahead of negotiations.
The US outlet quoted a Kremlin spokesperson who said the Saudi-based talks would aim to improve relations between Moscow and Washington, “so certain events can be viewed in this context”.
Beginning on Tuesday, the two countries are set to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
But in doing so, the US has sidelined Kyiv from the discussions, as well as Europe, sparking alarm on the continent.
European leaders have been left scrambling to readjust to their new reality where they cannot rely on the US as much in terms of security and defence under the Trump administration.
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It comes after another US citizen, Marc Fogel, was recently released by Russia and welcomed home by US President Donald Trump.
The 63-year-old history teacher was also arrested on drug smuggling charges – for what he said was medically prescribed cannabis.
President Donald Trump and Marc Fogel in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House.
Pic: AP/Alex Brandon
“I feel like the luckiest man on earth right now,” Mr Fogel said after President Trump welcomed him to the White House.
An American flag draped around his shoulders and a beer in his hands, he added: “I am not the hero in this at all. President Trump is the hero.”
Last year, the largest prisoner exchange between the West and Russia since the Cold War took place.
It saw three Americans freed among 24 people being released.
Vladimir Putin told Donald Trump he “will not back down” from Russia’s goals in Ukraine during a phone call today, the Kremlin has said.
The Russian president spoke to his US counterpart for almost an hour, and Mr Trump “again raised the issue of an early end to military action” in Ukraine, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
In response, Mr Putin said “Russia will not back down” from its aims there, which include “the elimination of the well-known root causes that led to the current state of affairs,” Mr Ushakov said.
The phrase “root causes” is shorthand for Moscow’s argument that it was compelled to invade Ukraine in order to prevent the country from joining NATO.
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Trump and Putin’s latest call on Ukraine
Ukraine and its European allies say this is a pretext to justify what they call an imperial-style war, but Mr Trump has previously shown sympathy with Russia.
At the same time, Mr Putin told the US president that Russia is ready to continue negotiating, the aide said.
The Russian president said any prospective peace deal must see Ukraine give up its NATO bid and recognise his country’s territorial gains.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, seen with Mr Trump in June, is pushing for Ukraine to join NATO. Pic: Reuters
He also briefed Mr Trump on agreements made last month, which saw Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners of war and dead soldiers.
Specific dates for the third round of peace talks in Istanbul were not discussed – nor was the US decision to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine.
Mr Putin and Mr Trump’s call came after the Pentagon confirmed some weapons due to be sent to Ukraine have been held as it reviews military stockpiles.
The paused shipments include air defence missiles and precision-guided artillery, two people familiar with the situation have said.
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The decision led to Ukraine calling in the acting US envoy to Kyiv on Wednesday to underline the importance of military aid from Washington.
Kyiv also cautioned that the move would weaken Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against intensifying Russian airstrikes and battlefield advances.
Mr Putin and Mr Trump’s phone call was the sixth they have publicly disclosed since the US president returned to the White House in January.
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